Not Your Average Girls
It wasn't your ordinary fan signing. At the event zone in a major bookstore, Shin Soye, Im Haeun, and Park Minji were looking around, genuinely impressed.
"This is the first time we've had this many people at one of our signings."
"Wasn't it supposed to be a line of 100? This is already..."
"Probably just onlookers. There are fans who want to listen to the Q&A even if they can't get a signature."
"Whoa, and they've been waiting like this since earlier... Our second album's title track really took off."
"More like... Freyja... that acting was insane..."
"Ehehe, that was just the spice. That's not why this crowd showed up."
"But the likes were... super high..."
"Argh, I don't wanna get stuck with that image."
Im Haeun shook her head with a look of utter disgust.
"Haeun, watch your expression. People are watching."
Shin Soye immediately called her out. At that, Im Haeun glanced at the fans lined up outside, and the ones who made eye contact started waving frantically.
"Whoa~ Unnie~!"
"Freyja! Freyja!"
"Cool Freyja! Cool Freyja!"
"Haeun, expression!"
Im Haeun's lips and eyebrows twitched wildly as she forced a smile, trembling with rage.
"There are too many eyes on us right now to even count, so be careful. Careful."
"Ughhh..."
Are those really fans? They're not here just to mess with me, are they?
Such doubts swirled in her head, but Im Haeun was a pro. She swallowed it all and slowly waved to the crowd around her. To the onlookers, it just looked like a friendly smile, sparking all sorts of imaginations among the fans in line as they chatted.
"Whoa, she's even hotter in person."
"Was the MV real or did they use CG? Damn..."
"She's seriously majestic."
"All three... damn... just damn."
"Whoa, did she just make eye contact with me? Crazy! Did you see? She waved!"
"Shut up, you idiot."
"Hoo, hoo..."
"Crazy bastard, stop panting like that. You look like a total perv."
"But... how can you not get excited seeing Haeun..."
"Excuse me, officer? He's right here."
The fans buzzed with excitement and anticipation, their sexy charm on full display up close, hearts racing at the thought of maybe exchanging a word or two. The air around them heated up. Even passersby stopped out of curiosity, making the crowd even noisier.
Murmur murmur murmur...
But amid the amusement-park-line vibe building in the crowd, one figure was rejecting the heat with every fiber of his being.
Those goddamn bitches.
Under his deeply pulled-down cap, Kim Su-hyeok glared murderously at The Queens.
They ruined my fucking life, and now they're thriving? What the hell?
He spat curses inwardly, then hurriedly pulled his cap lower as someone rushed past. Spotting Lee Sejin, flames erupted in his chest.
Ha, that bastard... As soon as I was out, he snatched my spot. Thinks he's hot shit? The punk hasn't done jack.
Lee Sejin weaving through The Queens, chatting with the girls—they nodded and laughed. A few fans muttered.
"Whoa, is that the manager?"
"Shh... damn... jealous... I could... shh damn too."
"God, stop with the boomer bullshit."
"Gross."
The manager gave some instructions and dashed off, but even that brief interaction was enviable from the fans' perspective. Many shot him glares, and Kim Su-hyeok's was the most murderous, like he wanted to kill him on the spot.
Fuck fuck fuck! I should've been the one in there with them! I raised them, and these ungrateful sluts...
They barely smiled at me, but for that bastard, they make those faces?
Kim Su-hyeok, fuming at Lee Sejin, took a deep breath.
...No, that punk isn't the priority right now. Something more important.
The bastard's probably just slaving away for the girls anyway. Seeing him succeed in my place pissed me off, but without skills, he won't last. More importantly...
Kim Su-hyeok turned back to The Queens, fixing his gaze on Shin Soye with eyes that could devour her alive.
That fucking bitch! How dare that slut...!
She was his revenge target— the one who got him fired and blacklisted from the industry.
A bitch with nothing but tits rejects my kindness and shoves me into the gutter!?
He didn't know her tricks, but after leaving under her threats, no one in the biz would touch him. Resumes rejected outright, old connections ghosting him... All her doing, that fucking whore!
Ruin someone else's life? Time to ruin yours too, right?
Kim Su-hyeok fiddled with the knife in his pocket, waiting for the signing to start.
I finished the frantic preparations and kicked off the signing, scanning the faces in the standing crowd one by one.
Why do I keep feeling this weird unease?
It wasn't a private fansign; it was open, only for on-site album buyers. Thanks to the promo videos and MV, interest was surging, so we chose this to boost recognition further... but events like this were perfect for incidents. No wonder I was worried.
I've done everything I can...
Security was thinly spread, plastic barriers up... Nothing more to do. I stood right by the table, watching everyone who approached, and...
"...Jina."
"......"
"Sejin."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, what?"
Before I knew it, Soye was calling me.
"Why so tense? Like it's your first event."
"Huh? Me?"
"Yeah. Your face is totally stiff."
I rubbed my cheek with my palm.
"Ah, sorry. Can't believe I'm worrying you like this..."
"Don't stress too much. Worried something might happen?"
"Better safe than sorry. Gotta stay alert. I'll keep watching..."
"It'll be fine."
Soye smiled softly, soothing me.
"Nothing's gonna happen. Relax."
"Still..."
"The girls are pros. Don't worry so much—you're making me tense too."
"O-okay..."
"Manager, it's time."
A staffer whispered to me. She was right—nothing would happen. Over-stressing one event would backfire. If it's our girls, they'll handle it.
Not our first rodeo, so why am I like this?
Did I eat something bad? Extra uneasy today.
"Unnie, open it up."
Soye nodded, grabbing the mic in front of her. Haeun and Minji followed suit.
"Thank you all so much for coming to The Queens' fansign today! The Queens' leader, Shin Soye,"
"Im Haeun,"
"L-last, Park Minji...!"
The fans applauded their greetings.
"We'll chat during the signing, and answer questions after."
"We've prepared tons of fan service, so stick around till the end, okay?"
"Uh, y-yeah, p-please take care of us...!"
The members nailed their practiced lines. Then, fans from the front started coming up. Greeting and signing went smoothly, peacefully.
Yeah, it'll be fine.
I reassured myself, keeping watch.
"Manager, the road manager needs you at the parking lot."
While observing, another staffer whispered.
"Tell them later."
"It's... a van issue, and they say the road manager has to come now. Sounds big—they even mentioned your name."
"Ugh... Got it, coming."
No choice—I left with the staffer. Parking should've been fine, so why call me there suddenly? Gotta push for another roadie...
Wait.
They mentioned my name for the road manager? Who'd call me that...?
A bad feeling hit; I turned. Far off, a capped man approached Soye. That gait, build—familiar...
"Shit!"
The moment he pulled something from his pocket, I bolted.
When his turn came, Kim Su-hyeok smirked seeing Lee Sejin leave the venue.
Perfect—the closest pest is gone...
He hid his grin, pulled his cap lower, and headed to Shin Soye.
"Hello! Thanks for buying the album."
Soye greeted reflexively, spotting his face. Their eyes met; he dropped the smile.
"Remember me?"
One hand smacked the plastic barrier aside; the other drew the knife. Lee Sejin reacted, running over—but Kim was faster. Just as he swung...
Hiss!
"Gahhhh!?"
Soye moved first. She whipped out her self-defense spray from her pocket and nailed his eyes.
"I told you... never show your face to me again."
Kim staggered back, eyes burning. Next fastest: Im Haeun.
"You crazy fuck!"
Knife out—Haeun vaulted the table with her hands and unleashed a perfect side kick.
Thud!
"Guhk!?"
Straight to Kim's ribs. Clean hit; he flew back.
"You fucking dog shit!!"
As Kim flailed for a last swing, Lee Sejin charged from behind, yanking his right arm, slamming an elbow into his forearm—the knife clattered free.
"Aaaagh!"
Kim screamed, dropping to his knees. Sejin twisted the wrist, pinning the arm with his knee. Fully subdued, Kim could only howl like a beast.
"Raaargh!"
The chaos unfolded in seconds; everyone froze, staring.
"Security!"
Sejin's shout after restraining him snapped people out. They started clapping one by one.
The takedown was so clean, it looked like a show.
Clap clap clap clap...
"What the... everyone..."
Sejin trailed off at the weird vibe. Security rushed in, dragging Kim away.
Soye called to the baffled Sejin and Haeun.
"Sejin, Haeun. Let's keep the signing going."
"Unnie, after that? How..."
"It's fine. Look at the mood—they think it's a show."
"No, unnie, how..."
"We can handle it after. No need to ruin the event."
Sejin and Haeun frowned but nodded. Better not wreck it if possible. They returned to positions; the signing continued.
We wrapped the event, talked to the cops, tied up loose ends—it was late night. I worried about Soye's mental state after the sudden attack, but she seemed unfazed.
"I'm really fine. Just startled—he actually showed up again."
"Still, maybe book a therapist? Trauma like that, better care quick."
"Seriously fine. Idols going there just gets rumors."
"Doesn't matter. Your mental health first."
"Sejin, really fine. I've dealt with this crap before."
"...O-okay."
What kind of family is she from? Unimaginable. Gotta check someday... if possible.
"Haeun, you okay now?"
"Told you a million times."
"Still, seeing an assault up close..."
"Pfft, no blood even. Not my first fight."
"...O-okay."
Confirmed: she was a delinquent in school. That kick? Pro-level.
Good thing, actually... No shock from this.
"H-ha... u-um... r-really... okay, unnie...?"
Minji was shaken, though, fussing over Haeun.
"Unnie's ankle... doesn't hurt...? They say it twists easy..."
"Nope. You okay?"
"I wasn't attacked or anything...! J-just worried about your ankle..."
Nah, Minji's fine too. Worrying only about Haeun's ankle in that mess? Kim Su-hyeok was nothing to her.
Our girls aren't ordinary—I knew that, but not like this.
Better this way than mental damage...
Checked everyone, handed Kim to the cops. Then I pulled up the internet on my phone.
Cops'll handle Kim's bullshit... Time for our side. See how today's mess spread.
Soye's spray takedown, Haeun's killer kick. From my view, they handled the crisis perfectly—but as a girl group, bad rumors could fly.
Idiots speculating how the creep got in, or calling Haeun violent...
I quickly scanned communities, SNS, news... and found some posts.
"...What?"
The vibe was way more positive than I'd feared.